2026 German Youth Championships in Zeiskam: The Winners in Jumping and Dressage

Dressage

Juniors: Kohoutek Adds German Championship Title to European Championship Victory

In the junior dressage competition, two-time European champion Clara Kohoutek prevailed over the competition in all three qualifying tests and posted an overall score of 230.47 points—a clear victory. This time, however, she did not ride her European Championship horse, Dark Dancer, but rather her ten-year-old Hanoverian mare Belinda FRH, who had been the reserve for the European Championships.

The silver medal went to European Pony Champion Leni-Sophie Gosmann in her first junior year, riding DSP First Class (222.26), the very horse that had previously helped Lia Welschof win gold at the U21 European Championships and later helped Viktoria von Braunmühl secure a European title with the team—albeit in the junior division.

Eve Catherine Bartels took bronze—though not with her European Championship partner Villeneuve (who was unable to compete), but with the nine-year-old Rhineland stallion Ibiza Dream (221.31). The son of Asgard’s Ibiza, bred by Axel Windeler, placed second at the Bundeschampionat as a four-year-old with Sina Aringer. Most recently, he was ridden by Beatrice Hoffrogge at the S level before Bartels took him over. This is her first competition season, and with a fourth-place finish and two third-place finishes in the qualifying classes at Zeiskam, they demonstrated a consistently strong performance.

Young Riders: Schmitz-Heinen Comes Out on

Top

Three-time Junior European Champion in 2025, European Champion in 2026, and now also German Champion: Julie Sofie Schmitz-Heinen with Attractive. The road to the title, however, was no walk in the park. Although the pair was the best in the first round, they scored below 70 percent in the individual test and finished only seventh. However, they rebounded in the freestyle. A score of 77.33 percent gave them a commanding lead and ultimately secured the title.

Josephine Ruppert and DSP Bella Donna, the 2023 European Team Champions, took silver (216.07). One pair that probably no one really had on their radar was Fabian Klatt and First Secco K. Although Fabian—who was awarded the Golden Riding Badge in November 2025—had already competed three times at “the German Championships,” this time he took home the bronze medal (214.91)—just over a point behind Ruppert.

National Junior Championship: Hansmeyer Takes the Lead

In the National Junior Championship featuring a change of horses, U14 European team champion Antonia Hansmeyer, riding Gentle van Wittenstein V, took the win (165.29) in the absence of her teammates Schuchmann and Hohl.

Silver went to the European Championship reserve pair, Anna Schmieder with “Freispiel” (164.52), followed by the dark horse of the European Championships, Jasper Rasche with “Limoncelli 2” (162.53).

Ponies: Gosmann Fights Her Way to the Top in the Freestyle

There was a comeback in the pony division. Lilly Kasselmann, riding Nasdaq FH, clearly led the field after the first two qualifying rounds with scores of 76.590 and 77.073 percent. However, she didn’t have such a good day in the final freestyle, finishing “only” eighth with 73.575 percent and thus losing the gold medal. But she still took home the silver.

Things went quite differently for Leni-Sophie Gosmann and her pony Diamantini EA WE in her final Pony DJM. In the first two tests, she trailed her European Championship teammate Lilly (76.256 and 75.780 percent). And then came the freestyle—which they won with an impressive 79.900 percent. That was easily enough to secure the title. Final score: 231.936 to 227.238 points.

The bronze medal went to the third member of the European Championship team, Lilli von Helldorff riding Nabucco HW, with a total score of 223.279 points.

Jumping

Young Riders: Mathies Rüder’s Medal Bonanza

He arrived as the U21 European Champion and German Champion in eventing, and now he’s leaving as the U21 German Champion in show jumping as well: Kai Rüder’s son, Mathies Rüder, riding Carlesta, a daughter of Casall. The pair won the opening speed jumping competition and didn’t have a single knockdown throughout the entire championship. With that, the title was theirs for the taking.

Mikka Roth and Fresno S.H. (by Emerald) maintained their perfect record. But the pair finished “only” fourth in the opening speed jumping event and trailed Mathies—who had a clear round—by 1.43 points. A small consolation: At least they won the final event—Sunday’s 1.50-meter jumping competition—ahead of Rüder. Still, Roth and Fresno S.H. took home the silver medal.

The bronze medal went to Mafalda Schröder on Carracio (by Calido I) with 7.87 penalty points.

Children: A Close Call in Favor of the Speedy Hollenbach

Mary-Ann Hollenbach and Falitha Sheila (by Zambesi) did exactly what had already led to success at Rüder: win the speed jumping, then ride clear. It was a tough break forEuropean Championship team bronze medalist Joelle Sprehe, who finished second with Con Gold (by Stakkato Gold), and Angelina Zweig, who took bronze with Lillit (by Lordanos)—both of whom also finished the German Junior Championships with their results from the speed jumping round.

Still, the Sprehe family should have plenty to celebrate after this weekend, since Joelle’s mother, Jörne, rode to a decisive clear round yesterday, securing Germany’s Nations Cup victory at Spruce Meadows.

Ponies: Beerbaum the Only Rider with a Perfect Record

In the pony division, Brianne Beerbaum was crowned champion. Riding Iron Star Alias, she was the only rider in the field to remain faultless in all four qualifying rounds—a record that secured her the title even before the final round. Silver went to Frieda Louise Riedel riding Leo, and bronze to Janne Neumann riding Hégérie de Lanlore (by Toulon).

Junior Division: Merschformann Wins Championship, Beerbaum Takes Second Medal

European team champion Malte Merschformann won the junior championship title with Blue Water (by Balou du Rouet) thanks to three clear rounds and a second-place finish in the speed class.

Markus and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum’s daughter Brianne, who had already won gold in the pony class and helped secure the German title in the decisive round at the European Championships with Kiss Me, also claimed a medal in the junior division with her Holsteiner Zenzero (by Zuccero). With two clear rounds, the pair worked their way up from ninth place after the jump-off to take the silver medal.

The bronze medal went to Anabell Plock, daughter of show jumper Frank Plock, riding Joana (by Casall), who also had a clear round.

You can find all the results from the DJM here.